USA > Ohio > History of the Seventieth Ohio Regiment : from its organization to its mustering out > Part 3
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It is a double log building, standing on a high ridge, on the upper or southern end of a large field, and was used by the enemy as a block- house to annoy our pickets. The ridge was covered by a thick grove of heavy oaks and underbrush. We occupied our camp near this house, keeping up the work day and night, until May 27th, 1862, when we were ordered to drive the Rebels from our front on the Corinth road; drive back the pickets as far as possible, and make a strong demonstration upon Corinth itself. The force engaged in this movement was one Brigade from General McClernand's Division, one Brigade from General Hurlbut's, General Denver's Brigade, General Smith's Brigade, Colonel John A. Logan's Brigade of General Judah's Division, and General J. C. Veach's Brigade. The Corinth road runs along the east fence of a large open field, while the field itself extends far to the right into the lowlands of Phillips Creek, so thick with undergrowth as to be almost impassable. General Denver was ordered to take the 70th Ohio, 72d Ohio, 48th Ohio and 53d Ohio, with Morton's Battery of four guns, and to move in perfect silence at eight o'clock A.M., and to keep well under cover as he came near the field; General Morgan L. Smith's Brigade, with Barrett's and Waterhouse's Batteries, to march along the main road, keeping well in the woods to the left ; General Veach's Brigade to move through the woods on the left and connect with General Smith; General Logan to move down Bowie's Hill, cut off the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, so as to connect with our Brigade.on the right; all to march at eight o'clock A.M. The skirmishers were to keep well to the front. Two twenty-pound Parrot rifled guns, of Silversparre's Battery, in com- mand of Major Taylor, moved silently through the forest to a point behind a hill, from the top of which could be seen the ground to be con-
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tested. A single shot from one of Silversparre's Parrot guns was desig- nated as the signal for the Brigade to advance. The signal was finally given, when we dashed forward, crossed the field, driving the enemy across the ridge and field beyond into another dense forest, and by ten o'clock A.M. we were masters of the situation and the position ours.
A piece of cleared land lay in our front and extended obliquely to the left in front of and across Smith's and Veach's Brigades, which were posted on the main Corinth road, leading south. About three P.M. an alarm was sounded, and we heard the sharp rattle of musketry all along our entire picket lines ; then came the sound of the Rebel corn- bread yap, like an attacking column making a charge, but by the wise, judicious management of Major Taylor. our artillery had been already posted, and was ready for most any attack that might be made; and before the Rebel yell had died away the chorus of " The Union and the Old Flag " echoed forth our reply from the cannon's mouth.
The handling of the keyboards of our artillery was good, rapid and well directed, bursting the shells in the right place to make the Johnnies understand what our music meant. At first our picket line was forced to fall back, but as soon as recovering from the shock they regained their ground, holding it stubbornly until the enemy was forced to retreat in utter confusion. Our right now rested on the railroad near Bowie Hill cut. This position gained, it being a good one, it was decided to dig trenches. Just shortly after dark the engineers marked and staked off the lines, and the work was soon commenced. After working hard all night we succeeded in throwing up a strong line of works for defense. Here our skirmishers found that within one thousand three hundred yards the enemy lay concealed in force behind his intrenchments at Corinth, with a dense foliage of the oak forest. We could not push out our skirmishers more than two hundred yards to the front.
At nine o'clock our lines of works were all done and our artillery all in position. At four P.M. the siege train was brought forward with Colonel McDowell's Second Brigade from the Russell House, and relieved General Logan's Brigade. The line of our Division lay in a slightly curved position facing south, our right resting on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, our left resting on the main Corinth road. We were so near the lines of the enemy at Corinth that we could hear the sound of his drums, and sometimes hear the commands given by the officers. We could hear the trains arriving and departing, as though on fast time, especially at night.
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At about six o'clock on the morning of the 30th of May, 1862, a . curious explosion took place, resembling something like a volley of large siege guns, followed by others, singly and in twos and threes, which arrested General Sherman's attention. Soon after this a large, black smoke was seen rising in the direction of Corinth. General Sherman immediately put in motion two Regiments from each Brigade (the 70th Ohio from our Brigade), by different roads, soon after followed by the entire Division, infantry, artillery and cavalry. We found the enemy's chief redoubt within thirteen hundred yards from our lines, but vacated. We passed on from line to line of thrown-up works, and at seven o'clock: our Brigade entered Corinth and found the Rebels all gone. By eight o'clock General Sherman's Division was all in and beyond Corinth. On the entire ridge extending from Sherman's camp into Corinth, and to the right and left, could be seen the remains of the abandoned camp of the enemy, flour and provisions scattered about, and everything indicated a speedy and confused retreat.
As we entered Corinth we found many houses still burning ; many warehouses and other buildings in which were commissary and quarter- masters' stores still smoldering in ruins, while here and there lay great piles of cannon balls, shells and shot. sugar, molasses, beans, rice, and a lot of other property the enemy failed to carry off or destroy ... We were told by some of the citizens who remained in Corinth that the Rebels had been busy for several days moving their sick and their valuable stores away by rail. The trains were continually coming in and going out, bearing away all they could before leaving the field to the Yankee army. On the night of May 28th, 1862, a part of the force was moved out on the train. A large amount of rolling stock they could not get away was left in our hands.
On the night of May 29th, at about ten o'clock, the Rebels began their march, and continued to march all through the night, their columns moving out on all the roads leading south and west, their rear guard firing the train which led to the explosions and the conflagration. In consequence of the failure on the part of the Rebels to relieve their pickets that morning, many of them were captured who had not the slightest information in regard to the evacuation of Corinth.
Finding Corinth now evacuated, General Sherman ordered General Morgan L. Smith to press hard on to Ripley road, as it was evident that a great bulk of the enemy's artillery had gone that way. General Smith pushed rapidly across the bottom of Tuscumbia Creek to the bridges
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across said creek. Here the Rebels took a stand of a few minutes' duration, firing a few shots of grape and canister, then continuing their retreat, burning every bridge and leaving the woods full of their strag- gling soldiers. Many of these were captured by our army and sent to the rear, while the main body of the Rebel forces escaped across Tus- cumbia Creek. And thus ended the great Corinth campaign, and our army was again permitted to enjoy a short, quiet rest and to recruit.
In reviewing the campaign just closed, we find in the evacuation of Corinth, at the time and manner in which it was done, a square back- down from the high and exalted position heretofore assumed by the Rebels. The ground was of their own choice. Their fortifications were strong ; supposed to be all that was necessary for our defeat. With an immense force employed, they occupied the greater part of two months in constructing those works. They also had the advantage of two powerful railroads by which to supply their army with reinforcements and provisions. Their Generals were men of ability and courage. They boldly and defiantly challenged us to meet them at Corinth. The chal- lenge was accepted ; and from the time our army moved out from Old Shiloh Church on to Corinth, and up to the date of its evacuation, the 70th Ohio was always in the front line. We had to march through swamps and ambuscades of the Southern forests. We constructed seven distinct lines of intrenchments. Scarcely had one line been completed before we were ordered to advance a short distance, take up a new position and construct another line of intrenchn ents. All this time we occupied the extreme right flank of the army, in consequence of which we were the more exposed, and were compelled to perform as. hard duty as any other portion of the army, and furnished each day our share of detail duty. Yet our Regiment performed every duty with such cheer- fulness and promptness that we honestly and justly commanded and received the highest praise from cur Division Commander, General W. T. Sherman.
In every detail the 70th Ohio was always prompt in furnishing her quota. In every line of march or intrenchments occupied, Colonel Cockerill would rally the 70th to the color line, each morning at three o'clock. where we remained in line of battle until after daylight: then stack arms, break ranks and get breakfast. In each of our intrenched encampments the health of our Regiment was universally looked after. Each morning we were compelled by general orders to police our quar- ters, throw open our tents, air our blankets and knapsacks, and remove
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HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
all dirt and rubbish from our parade ground. While we were in trench No. 7, May 7th, 1862, Matthew Tucker, a private of Company G, died of fever.
On the morning of June 3d. 1862, Colonel S. Lyle Dickey, 4th Illinois Cavalry, returned from a reconnoitering trip and reported no enemy in front. We were then sent to Chewalla, and there set to work to save such of the rolling stock of the railway as could be rendered serviceable to the Government. And by the 9th day of June we had succeeded in gathering together and sent to Corinth seven locomotives in good order, one dozen platform cars, over two hundred pairs of truck- wheels, together with the iron-work of sixty cars, besides building and repairing one or two bridges. On the Toth day of June, 1862, we received orders to march to Grand Junction for the purpose of repairing the Memphis and Charleston Railway west of that point, arriving at this place on the morning of June 14th, 1862.
Grand Junction is a small town fifty two miles from Memphis, Tenn., and one hundred and fifty-four miles south from Cairo, Ill., and is the junction of the Memphis and Charleston with the Mississippi Central.
We remained at Grand Junction about eleven days. The remainder of our Division went into camp at La Grange, a town three miles farther west, on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. During this time we were engaged in repairing two pieces of trestle-work. We also built two long sections of trestle-work near La Grange.
On June 25th, 1862, our Regiment (70th Ohio) marched to Moscow, a small town five miles west of La Grange, on the Memphis and Charles- ton Railroad; the 72d, 48th and 53d Ohio Regiments followed after, while the First and Second Brigades of our Division marched . on and went into camp at Lafayette. a town about three miles west of Moscow. General Hurlbut's Division remained in camp at Grand Junction and La Grange.
While we were marching through La Grange the sidewalks and streets were completely lined with all classes and conditions of the colored race, giving expressions of joy in various ways - some shouting, some laughing, some hallooing, some running, while others were clapping their hands and bowing their heads. It was indeed very amusing to us, as we tramped along, thirsty, tired and all covered over with dust, to see these poor darkies, dressed as they were, very shabby, ragged and bareheaded in the hot sun, rejoicing because the Yankees had come. Occasionally some one of the boys would call out in the following style:
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HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
" Hello, Sambo! What's the matter with you?" The response from these colored people would be: "Oh, bress de Lawd, you'se come ! Bress de Lawd, you'se come at last! We knows ve; you is Massa Linkum's boys. Whoopec! We knows you was comin', and heah vou is at last."
After going into camp at Moscow the 70th Ohio was detailed to construct a small fort upon an elevated piece of ground about one hun- dred vards east of town, overlooking the depot. Moscow is situated on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad not far from the banks of Wolf River, in Fayette County, Tennessee. While in camp at this place we were visited by a very important officer of the Government, who, after mustering us all in line and calling our names one by one, after signing the proper pay-rolls, we were paid our second installment in greenbacks. Nothing made the soldier feel better than a pocket full of greenbacks.
Some members of the Company will never forget some certain and amusing incidents that occurred while on picket duty at the bridge over Wolf River. and some will never forget the owl. "Boo, who! hoo hoc! Halt! Who comes there ? "
On the 29th day of June. 1862. as per general orders from General Halleck, General Sherman, with our Division, marched to Holly Springs, Miss., twenty-five miles distant from La Grange and Moscow, to co-operate with General Hamilton's Division of General Rosecrans' Corps, which would be there at a given time. After concentrating at Hudsonville by different roads, the two Divisions reached Cold Water, five miles from Holly Springs. On the morning of July Ist, 1862 Gen- eral Denver was ordered to take our Brigade and the 4th Illinois Cavalry, two hundred strong, and advance on the road leading to the Cox plati- tation. We had not advanced very far before the 4th Illinois Cavalry met the advance of the enemy's cavalry, who numbered about two thou- sand, commanded by Caleb Jackson. A lively little skirmish was the result of this meeting. Jackson's forces fell back and concealed them- selves in ambush near Cox's plantation, waiting for our advance to pass ; and as soon as our cavalry had passed the Cox residence the Rebel cavalry filed across the road for the purpose of cutting off the cavalry from the main columns of our Brigade. Just as soon as their lines were established in position they opened a brisk fire, killing one man and wounding four. By this time the advance of our Brigade had come up, just at the right moment to prevent further trouble. The Rebels then fell back on Holly Springs and reformed their lines on the west side of
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the town, while our Brigade halted within about one thousand yards of the town and in plain view. One of our batteries was brought forward and placed in a commanding position, and then opened a vigorous fire of shot and shell, driving the enemy back through and beyond the town to Tallahatchie River, leaving Holly Springs with a lot of commissary stores and a large pile of corn in our hands.
Here. as at La Grange. the poor darky was made cheerful and happy by the presence of the "Linkum sojers." We greeted them with a "Good morning. Sambo," or. " Hello, Sambo; ain't you afraid of the Yankees? " To which the darky would reply, "No, sah! you is de Linkum boys. You is de powah ; we knows you is de powah ; and where de powah is dah is no danger." The colored people of the South proved themselves in every instance to be the true friends of the Union soldiers.
We remained at Holly Springs until July 5th, 1862, when we were ordered back to the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, our Brigade . going into camp at Moscow, while the First and Second Brigades returned to their camps at Lafayette, General Hamilton's Division return- . ing to their camp at Corinth.
About the roth or 11th day of July, 1862. the left wing of the 70th Ohio Regiment was ordered to La Grange for special duty, as it was reported that a Rebel force commanded by General Smith would attack the town that night. The Companies composing the left wing of the 70th Ohio were sent out as pickets that night. and were posted almost in the shape of the letter \', in a deep ravine between two ridges, and on the main road leading into town. About midnight, or perhaps later, a man came riding down the hill and toward one of our outposts. The sentinel halted him and took him in and sent him to the reserve post. He inquired of the officer in charge (Captain Summers, I believe) what command this was, to which Captain Summers replied: "We belong to General Smith's command, and intend to make an attack on La Grange in the morning. The Johnny. thinking he had made the right connection, replied: " I belong to General Smith's command. Have a spah gun? I don't care to take a hand and assist you in driving the d-n Yankees out of town." You may imagine, if you can, his surprise when daylight came he found himself surrounded by the blue-coated Yankee soldiers. Of course, he was sent to general headquarters as a prisoner of war, and that was the last we ever saw of him, The next day we were ordered back to our camp at Moscow.
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LIEUT, COL. D. W. C. LOUDEN.
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HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
At this time General Halleck was appointed as General-in-Chief of the Armies of the United States. The Department of the Mississippi was discontinued, and General U. S. Grant was assigned to the command of the Department of the Tennessee, embracing all the ground of his previous operations. On the 15th day of July, 1862, General Grant ordered General Sherman to march at once, with his own and Genera! Hurlbut's Division, to Memphis, and there relicve Brigadier General Hovey, then in command of that post, and send all the infantry of Wal- lace's Division to Helena, Ark., to report to General Curtis. On Mon- day, July 21st, 1862, General Sherman assumed command of the District of Memphis, stationing our Brigade in Fort Pickering and Hurlbut's on the river below. Our march from Moscow to Memphis was a long, hot, dry and dusty one. We will give further particulars of the march in the next chapter.
CHAPTER V.
On the morning of July 18th, 1862. we broke camp and bid adieu to our camp at Moscow, Tenn., and started upon our march to Memphis. It was a bright, clear morning, and very hot. All of our sick were placed in ambulances in charge of our Regimental Surgeons. They were all made as comfortable as it was possible to be done on the march. In about two hours after our Regiment had moved out upon the road William H. Vaughn, a private of Company F. who was in the ambulance sick with typhoid fever, died and was buried by the road in the corner of a piece of woods about three miles west of Moscow, Tenn. Comrade Vaughn volunteered from Manchester, Adams County, Ohio, leaving a large family. He was an honest, brave soldier; never feared to do his duty, and was always at his post, always cheerful, and was one of many soldiers who carried their religion into the army with them, always living up to its principles. He never murmured or complained, and while in the line of duty he fell prostrate by the hand of disease, which resulted in his death.
The roads became very dusty and the air so full of dust that very often it was almost impossible to see your file leader; and water being scarce made it the more disagreeable. Our first day's march measured off ten miles. After going into camp, those not engaged at supper were busy fighting graybacks. The reader must bear in mind that we had two classes of graybacks to contend with during the war. One of these classes were very small in stature, but some of them, as the boys used to say, had " B. B. C." and "I. F. T. W." inscribed across their backs, meaning, interpreted, " Born before Christ" and " In for the war."
The next morning (July 19th, 1862) we moved out upon the road quite early. Colonel Cockerill was in attendance, sick. Lieutenant Colonel D. WV. C. Loudon was in command of the Regiment. Lieuten- ant H. L. Phillips, our Adjutant, was also sick, but still remained on duty with the Regiment. About eleven o'clock it became extremely hot and very dusty. Quite a number of our Regiment were prostrated from the effects of heat. About twelve or one o'clock the ambulance bearing Cockerill drove up to the front, when the Colonel ordered the 70th Ohio to file right into a large, green, shady lawn which we were just passing. Here we were ordered to stack arms and get dinner. We rested until about four o'clock, the other Regiments of our Brigade and Division doing the same. We again resumed our march at four o'clock, and
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marched until late in the cool of the evening, and went into camp for the night.
July 20th we moved out before sun-up. During this march our officers were very strict in enforcing discipline, and any soldier caught going into a cornfield and pulling roasting-ears subjected himself to an arrest and imprisonment in the guardhouse. At the same time, in spite of discipline, some of the Regiments had things pretty much their own way, especially the 6th and 8th Missouri. At one place along the road there was a sutler's wagon turned over and the goods scattered in every direction. The question was naturally asked, " Who did that?" The answer was, "The 6th and 8th Missouri." While marching through Collierville and Germantown we found goods, clothing and furniture scattered all through the streets. " Well, who did this?" The same answer came. " The 6th and Sth Missouri." We went into camp for the night at White's Station.
On Monday, July 21st. General Sherman assumed command of the District of Memphis. and on the morning of July 22d we marched through Memphis to Fort Pickering, situated on the bank of the Missis- sippi River just below the city. Memphis was held by the Confederates until captured by the United States Army May 27th 1862, and occupied by the Union Army as a military post. General Sherman permitted the Mayor and other civil officers of the city to remain in the full exercise of their duties. restricting them to the preservation of law and order among the citizens, and the lighting and cleaning of the streets, and confined the action of the Provost Marshal and his guards to persons in the military service, and to buildings and grounds used by the army. General Sherman informed all persons remaining in Memphis that they were expected to bear true allegiance to the United States, but, of course, did not always compel them to take the oath of loyalty; but they must at once make their choice between rebellion and the Union, and if they stayed within our lines and helped the enemy in any way, they would be treated as spies.
After a very hot and dusty march the 70th Ohio was stationed ini Fort Pickering. The special duties of the camp were picket, camp guard, fatigue duty. drill, review. dress parades, provost guard duty at the city, and inspection every Sunday morning, and compelled to police our quarters each morning. Rev. John M. Sullivan, a former pastor of the M. E. Church at Manchester, Ohio, was appointed and commis- .
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sioned Chaplain of the 7oth Ohio, and reported to the Regiment for duty while at this camp.
Some time during the month of August or September we were visited. by Mrs. Lieutenant Colonel D. W. C. London, Mrs. Colonel J. R. Cockerill. and Hopkins Elrod, from Ohio. Lieutenant John K. Truitt. of Company G, 7oth Ohio, reported to the Regiment for duty, but, owing to failing health, was not able to remain long with the Com- pany before being compelled to resign and return to his home.
October Ist. 1862, the 70th Ohio was ordered to Fort Randolph, Miss., about seventy-two miles above Memphis, on the bank of the Mis- sissippi River. We found a few Rebels at this place, but soon succeeded in driving them from the field. We remained here about one week, reconnoitering, and returned to Memphis at the end of the week with six large siege guns and a large lot of ammunition. We have omitted to mention that on the 21st day of August, 1862, we received another installment of greenbacks.
October 3d. 1862, John W. McFerren, Major of the 70th Ohio, died in the hospital at Fort Pickering That was a sad day's experience for our Regiment. Major McFerren was a good. kind man and a brave officer. Adams County never sent to the front a better man. No braver officer ever buckled on the sword in defense of his country than Major J. W. McFerren. Not a single stain upon his official character, he was loved by every member of the Regiment. He was never known to complain, no matter how hard the duty, but always went forward willingly and cheerfully ; but at last disease did what the bullets had not done. Death marked him as his own. He died. He gave his life to his country and for that flag so dear to our hearts to-day. God bless the memory of Major J. W. McFerren, of the 70th Ohio Regiment!
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